EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria’s Weekend of Terror: Suspected Herders Slaughter 13 in Benue Market as Terrorists Abduct Catholic Priest, 10 Others in Kaduna

By Ademola Adekusibe
February 8, 2026

Fresh waves of violence struck two Nigerian states over the weekend, leaving communities in mourning. In Benue State, suspected herders attacked Anwase market in Kwande Local Government Area (LGA), killing 13 people and destroying property. This came just two days after a similar assault in the Abande community, in the same LGA, left 16 dead.

The Benue attack saw assailants descend from a nearby mountain, firing sporadically and causing mass panic among traders. The local council chairman and security forces have mobilized to the area. Separately, police in Benue’s Ukum LGA arrested a suspect with 117 rounds of ammunition, who later died in custody.

In a parallel incident in Kaduna State, terrorists invaded the Karku community in Kauru LGA in the early hours of Saturday. They killed three people and abducted 11 others, including the parish priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye. The attack occurred barely 48 hours after Governor Uba Sani had received 172 previously abducted Christian worshippers in another part of the state.